The first ordination of an Indonesian bhikkhuni (female Buddhist monastic) in more than a thousand years was held on 21 June, marking the contemporary revival of the Theravada bhikkhuni order in the country.
From Sutar Soemitro
Sutar Soemitro, founder and editor of the website buddhazine.com, reports that the historic ordination took place at the monastery Wisma Kusalayani in the town of Lembang, West Java. Nine women (two from Indonesia and seven from overseas) undertook monastic vows. They are: Vajiradevi Bhikkhuni (Indonesia), Sadhika Bhikkhuni (Indonesia), Medha Bhikkhuni (Sri Lanka), Anula Bhikkhuni (Japan), Santasukha Bhikkhuni (Vietnam), Santamana Bhikkhuni (Vietnam), Sukhi Bhikkhuni (Malaysia), Sumangala Bhikkhuni (Malaysia), and Jenti Bhikkhuni (Australia). About 1,500 people attended the ordination ceremony, far exceeding the seating capacity of the venue.
From Sutar Soemitro
Monks and nuns alike were invited to the event so as to comply with the Vinaya’s requirement that the ordination of bhikkhunis should ideally be officiated by a group of monks (kammavacacariyas) as well as a group of nuns (kammavacacarinis). Venerable Bootawatte Saranankara from Malaysia led the ceremony as the male preceptor (bhikkhu upajjaya), while the female preceptor (bhikkhuni upajjaya) was Indonesian bhikkhuni Ayya Santini.
According to Ayya Tathaaloka’s translation of Soemitro’s article: “The nine candidates for nuns performed circumambulation around the stupa three times in the back of the monastery complex located next to the guest house, while flowers were showered on the earth as the prospective bhikkhunis passed. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, with all attendees keeping solemn silence. The only sound audible was the repeated sounding of the bell” (bhikkhuni.net).
From Sutar Soemitro
The ordination candidates then formed a procession to the Uposathagara (a hall where ordinations take place), which was officially opened by Ven. Bootawatte Saranankara. The ceremony itself was opened by the director general of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dasikin Buddha. “The Community of Theravada Bhikkhunis in Indonesia is the realization of gender equality in its role maintaining the Buddha Dhamma. Buddha himself has laid a solid foundation for the respect of women’s rights, putting women as individuals who should be honored not only as a samana [renunciate], but also revered as a mother figure,” he told buddhazine.com.
The ordination ceremony was conducted in two stages. Bhikkhuni Santini led the bhikkhunis’ confirmation of the candidates, while the monks’ confirmation was led by Ven. Bootawatte Saranankara.
From Sutar Soemitro
Ayya Santini said that the ordination would serve as an inspiration to Indonesian Buddhist women who wish to live as nuns. It was also a positive recognition of the service offered by women to Indonesian Buddhism. Ayya Santini is chair of the Indonesian Theravada Bhikkhuni Association, and was given the Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award by the UN on International Women’s Day 2007.
“Basically Buddhism does not distinguish between men and women based on gender. Buddha himself emphasized that in a marriage, the husband and wife have the same responsibility,” she noted (bhikkhuni.net).